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Dr. Sylvester Elikana Anami
Position: Senior Research Fellow Qualifications: B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD Contact Address: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Institute for Biotechnology Research, P.O.BOX 62000 -00200 Nairobi Kenya Email: [email protected] Facebook: Sylvester Biotechnology Twitter: @anamisylvester Tel: +254712614597 Area of Specialization: Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Botany RESEARCH INTEREST
1. Breeding and genetics of maize, cassava, sweetpotato to improve drought tolerance, aflatoxin resistance, grain yields and biomass yields
2. Conservation of biodiversity (tropical crops and forests) and sustainable management of ecosystems.
Research Experience
1. 2012 Iowa State University, Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology
Visiting scientist on Borlaug Fellowship Program under Prof Philip Brecraft supervision
Activities
1. Designed and constructed a transformation vector to enhance drought tolerance in maize. 2. Performed molecular characterization of transgenic lines 3. Performed a drought tolerance experiment on transgenic lines
2. 2011 VIB Department of Plant Genetics and Systems Biology, Ghent Belgium PhD-Plus postdoctoral Fellowship from Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad (VLIR)- Evaluating transgenic maize lines to generate vigorous stress tolerant maize by economizing energy consumption under Prof. Dr. Dirk Inze, Dr. Mieke Van Lijsebettens supervision.
3. 2005-2010 Ghent University, Belgium and and Kenyatta University, Kenya PhD thesis: Silencing approach using poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase gene to improve drought stress tolerance in maize under Prof. Dr. Dirk Inze, Dr. Mieke Van Lijesebettens supervision
During PhD The Maize transformation platform using Agrobacterium mediated transformation was established at the VIB-Department of Plant System Biology, Ghent University.
4. 2002-2004 KU-Leuven MSc thesis: Map based Cloning and functional analysis of genes controlling leaf growth and development in Arabidopsis thaliana under Prof. Dr. Mieke Van Lijsebettens promotership.
5. 2000-2002 Center for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, University of Nairobi Research Scientist: Development and evaluation of Bacillus thuringiniesis based biopesticide against maize stock borer
6. Technical University of Mombasa
1. Established and scientific head of the Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Systems Biology
2. Principal investigator on enhancing tropical maize adaptability to climate change for food security and sustainable livelihood 2011-2014 (National Commission of science, technology and innovation)
3. Principal investigator on tropical maize for food and health 2012-2015 (International Foundation for Science)
4. Co-principal investigator on using the benefits of Genomics and Systems Biology to enhance the adaptability of the sweet potato to drought stress emanating from climate change (National Commission of science, technology and innovation)
PUBLICATIONS 1. Joseck Akoyi, Allan J. Mgutu, Jesse Machuka, Mieke van Lijsebettens, Catherine Taracha and
Sylvester E. Anami (2012) Dicamba growth regulator promotes genotype independent somatic embryogenesis from immature zygotic embryos of tropical maize inbred lines. Journal of Life Sciences– Accepted for publication. JLS12121302.
2. Sylvester Anami, Elisabeth Njuguna and Mieke Van Lijsebettens (2013) Higher Plant transformation: Principal and Molecular Tools (Invited Review in preparation)
3. Jonathan Matheka, Sylvester Anami, James Gethi, Steven Runo, Amos Alakonya and Jesse Machuka (2013) The use of a DRB binary system to recover marker-free transgenic plants (Submitted for publication in the Plant Method Journal)
4. Sylvester Elikana Anami (2011) The Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie Book. ISBN: 978-90-8178-121-3
5. Sylvester Elikana Anami (2010). Silencing approach using poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase gene to improve drought stress tolerance in maize. Africa Focus 23: 61-67.
6. Anami, Sylvester Elikana; Mgutu, Allan Jalemba; Taracha, Catherine; Coussens, Griet;Karimi, Mansour; Hilson, Pierre; Lijsebettens, Mieke; Machuka, Jesse (2010). Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration of tropical maize genotypes. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 102,285-29
7. Robles, Pedro; Fleury, Delphine; Candela, Héctor; Cnops, Gerda; Alonso-Peral, María Magdalena; Anami, Sylvester; Falcone, Andrea; Caldana, Camila; Willmitzer, Lothar;Ponce, María Rosa; Van Lijsebettens, Mieke; Micol, José Luis (2010) The RON1/FRY1/SAL1 Gene Is
Required for Leaf Morphogenesis and Venation Patterning in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology, 152, 1357-1372
8. Anami, Sylvester; De Block, Marc; Machuka, Jesse; Van Lijsebettens, Mieke (2009) Molecular Improvement of Tropical Maize for Drought Stress Tolerance in Sub-Saharan Africa. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 28, 16-35
9. Fleury, Delphine; Himanen, Kristiina; Cnops, Gerda; Nelissen, Hilde; Boccardi, Tommaso Matteo; Maere, Steven; Beemster, Gerrit T S; Neyt, Pia; Anami, Sylvester; Robles, Pedro; Micol, Jose Luis; Inze, Dirk; Van Lijsebettens, Mieke (2007) The Arabidopsis thaliana Homolog of Yeast BRE1 Has a Function in Cell Cycle Regulation during Early Leaf and Root Growth. Plant Cell 19, 417-432
10. Anami, S., Coussens, G., Aesaert, S., Karimi, M., Nelissen, H., Hilson, P., Inzé, D. and Van Lijsebettens M (2010) Transgenic research in maize using Gateway technology. Maize Genetics Conference Abstract P114
11. Anami, E. S., Mguu, J. A., Hanley-Bowdoin, L., Rasha, A. O., Nelissen, H., Inzé, D., Van Lijsebettens, M., and Machuka, J. (2008) Progress in transformation and regeneration of tropical inbred maize lines in Kenya. Maize genetics Coop. Newslett. .82: 22-23.
CONFERENCES 1. Anami, S., Coussens, G., Aesaert, S., Karimi, M., Nelissen, H., Hilson, P., Inzé, D. and Van
Lijsebettens M. (2010) Transgenic research in maize using Gateway technology. Poster presentation at the 52nd Annual Maize Genetics Conference. March 18-21, 2010, Congress Centre of Riva del Garda (Trento), Italy.
2. Presented Part of my thesis results at the Belgium Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology by way of a poster during their annual general meeting at Vrije universiteit Brussels Belgium, Brussels on March 12th 2004. (http://www.icp.ucl.ac.be/bsbmb/welcome.html).
3. Presented a paper on Water as an alternative to Petrol in engines at the national science congress Nairobi, Kenya (1994).
4. Participated to teach participants at the International training course on molecular biology organized by the University of Nairobi and the Hertfordshire University (UK) from 28th Feb-11 March 2005. I taught a number of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology techniques and gave a talk on markers and bioinformatics tools to the participants.
5. Gerrit T.S. Beemster, Fabio Fiorani, Kris Moreel, Sylvester Anami, BartRymen, Mieke van Lijsebettens and Dirk Inzé Maize research at PlantSystems Biology (VIB): Basic and translational research in a crop species. Meeting “Knowledge for growth”, Gent 16 juni 2006. Knowledge for growth, Ghent 16th June 2006, Flanders Expo.
6. Sylvester Anami, Hilde Nelissen, Jesse Machuka, Dirk Inze, and Mieke Van Lijsebettens. Managing energy consumption and NAD+ metabolism as a basis to enhance stress tolerance in tropical maize. Bioinformatics for Africa 2007 Conference, Nairobi May 28th- 2nd June.
7. Sylvester Anami, Hilde Nelissen, Jesse Machuka, Dirk Inze, and Mieke Van Lijsebettens. The Impact of ZMPARP1 on Drought Stress Tolerance in Tropical Inbred Lines. Kenyatta University Postgraduate Seminar (2007).
8. miRNAs in health and disease. Meeting of the Belgian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Liège May 10th, 2006.
9. Attended the third summer course on Biosafety assessment and regulation of agricultural biotechnology. July 31st - August 11th 2006 Gent Belgium.
10. Gave a talk at Howest University College (2nd September 2011) on “Collaborative opportunities at the Mombasa Polytechnic University College”
11. The first National Science, Technology and innovation week (7th -11th ) KICC (Abstract and Talk on embryogenic callus induction and plant regeneration from immature embryos of tropical maize genotypes
12. Humboldt-Kolleg international Conference on the future of biodiversity research in Africa. 17th -20th July 2012 (Abstract and Talk on genotype independent embryogenic callus induction and incompetence of maize immature embryos to Agrobacterium infectivity
13. Executive workshop on Biotechnology at AICAD, JKUAT Nairobi, 13th August 2012 14. Second National ST&I Week - 13th - 17th May 2013 15. Attended a workshop organized by the National Biosafety Authority on developing guidelines on
risk assessment of facilities handling genetically modified organisms at Kenya School of Monetary Studies (10th-11th June 2013).
Supervision [A] PhD Students
1. Jonathan Mutie Matheka: Improving drought stress tolerance in tropical maize through enhancing energy use efficiency, Kenyatta University starting year 2009.
2. Mackenzie Nzaro: Transformation of sweet potato using CBF1 and CKX1 genes to enhance drought tolerance. Kenyatta University starting year 2011
3. Elisabeth Njuguna: Modulation of energy homeostasis in maize to develop lines with enhanced tolerance to drought and oxidative stresses. Gent University starting year 2012
4. Daniel Kwalimwa: Recalcitrance of tropical maize immature embryos to Agrobacterium mediated transformation (IBR, JKUAT)
5. Purity Gacheri Limbua Mutuma. Molecular maize breeding for drought stress tolerance (IBR, JKUAT)
[B] MSC Students
1. Charline Spruyt. Registration Number: 00603040. Changing Concepts of nature and Conservations Regarding Eastern Mau Forest: A Case Study of the Mariashoni Oqiek. Graduated in 2009.
2. Mr. Akoyi Joseck. Assessing the regeneration and transformation capacity of Kenyan tropical maize inbred lines. Kenyatta University starting year 2011
3. Sande Frida Olive. Reg No: I56/CE/20042/2010. Competence of tropical maize immature embryos to Agrobacterium mediated transformation. Kenyatta University. Graduated 2013
4. Laban Mwadime. Physiological response of tropical maize genotypes to drought stress tolerance. Kenyatta University starting year 2012
5. Perterson Muchemi Kariuki. Regeneration and transformation potential of hybrid maize adapted to Kenyan coastal strip starting year 2012
[C] Undergraduate Students
1. Malala Joel Bonface Reg No. SC-5401J-00279/10: In vitro propagation of coastal maize genotypes DK 8031 and PH 4 through somatic embryogenesis, Technical University of Mombasa (2013).
2. Njagi Shadrack Mwenda. Reg No. SC-5401-00267/10. Somatic embryogenesis and Callus Induction in Coastal adapted Maize genotypes DH04 and SC DUMA43, Technical University of Mombasa (2013)
[D] Jury thesis at KU-Leuven Belgium
1. Elisabeth Njuguna. Modulation of energy homeostasis in maize to develop lines with enhanced tolerance to drought and oxidative stresses (2012)
Referees
1. Prof. Mieke Van Lijsebettens, PhD Groupleader Chromatin and growth control VIB Department of Plant Systems Biology, Ghent University Technologiepark 927, 9052 Gent, Belgium Tel: +32 933 13 970 Fax: +32 933 13 809 Email: [email protected]
2. Prof. E. Van Driessche, PhD Vrije Universiteit Brussels Laboratory of Protein Chemistry Plainlaan 2, 1050 Brussels Belgium Tel: +3226291956 Fax: +3226291860 Email: [email protected]
3. Dr. Allan Jalemba Mgutu Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Kenyatta University P.O.BOX 43844 Nairobi Tel: +254727350339 Email: [email protected]
